Picker-stick attachment for looms.



F. BERNIER.

PICKER STICK ATTACHMENT FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. m4.

1,153.595. Patented'Spt. 14,1915.

58 W /S7 as 12727755555. 54: 5 Invenrar'x fill 6240M 7 W .15 be-ver much reduced and will be practically e iminated.

j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK IBEBNIER, F FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F nnonnicx BERNIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and I Picker-Stick Attachments -My invention re ates to improvements inpicker stick attachments for looms and the.

object of my improvement is to produce a picker stick andsupgorting means therefor by means of which t e liability to breakage and the damage resulting therefrom by the form of construction at present in use will V In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pair of picker sticks embodying my invention and some of the parts connected thereto; Fig. 2 is a'snmlar view on an enlarged scale of one of the picker sticks shown in Fig. 1 and the ad acent parts. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same with the parts in the positions afterthe upper end has been interrupted and ust previous to the dismountmg of the picker stick and release of the spring. Fig. 4 shows the picker-stick in dismounted condition and released. Fig, 5 is a sectional w-.-w of'Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the disconnecting pin. F g. 7 is a plan view of the connecting loop. Fig. 8 is a' fragmentary view of certain parts shownin Fig. 3.

The picker sticks shown in Fig. 1 are arthe sprin ranged in a pair as usua1,-as a left and a right, and are otherwise similar, and comprise each a picker stick proper '10 and means'for s'u porting the same to be de scribed. The inner side 11 of the upper end of the picker stick 10 serves as a bearing surface forengaging with the shuttle. Just beicker stick propelling 10 is engaged by some form 0 means 12: which when in use tends' to move the picker stick inwardly, so as to throw the shuttle across the loom. As in common use 1 the' lowe'r end of the." )icker stick is ally supported on the mine 13 by a pivotal 1 by the bolt 14. I utilize the b'olt14 for securingto the said frame 13 a plate15 on which is mounted the sup-y portin pivotpin which I replace "means forthe picker stick to be describe The frame 13 extends appreciably outwardly from the bolt 14 and s prov ded PICKEB-STICK ATTACHMENT FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d S t 14 19151 Application filed May 25, l

1914. Serial No. 840,739.

witha slot 16. The plate 15 is provided with a slot '17 in registration with the slot 16. The bolt 14 isin one portion of the slots 16 and 17 and cooperative therewith and positioned in another portion of the said slots is a special pin or stud 18, which also serves as the lowersupport for the picker stick 10. Thestud 18 is a double stud, the rear end of which engages with the slots 16 and 17 and the frontend of which is rather loosely engaged with the lower end of the picker stick 10 under normal conditions, by being positioned in the outwardly directed slot 19 provided in the said lower end. A third bolt or stud 20 is secured in the slot-17 1n the plate 15 by its rear end and the front end thereof serves as a pivotal support for theauxiliary stick 21. The auxiliary stick 21 is relatively short, is normally approxi mately parallel with the picker stick10, and

the upper end "thereof is linked to the picker stick 10 by the loop '22, and the lower end is connected to one end of the spring 23, and in a manner that permits of its being disconnected thereIrom in case of emergency. Normallythe propelling means 12 serve to move the picker stick 1O inwardly and the loop '22 serves as a link to move the auxiliary and its pivotal stud 18 is in the manner of a one sided pivot, the lateral-bearingbeing on the inner side only, the outer side being entirely open because of the open slot 19. Such normal usage is not severe and-permitsflof long life tothe parts, as it is well understood that in any case itis not the use under ordinary and normal conditions that warrants any special consideration but it is the abnormal conditions, such as obstruction of the desired free movement of the upper end of the picker stick 10, that requires such special consideration. I provide means by which under'zthe abnormal conditions mentioned the lower endof the picker stick 10 is freed entirely from the stud 1S and the spring 23 is alsoy freedqfrom its connection nvith the auxiliary sticlc'21', and I do thisfin the following. manner. The lowerend of the picker stick 10 extends a short distance below the slot 19 and the lower face '24 thereof may be rounded suitably for a bearing fora connecting strap 25. The lower end of the auxiliary stick 21 extends appreciably below the'lower end of the picker stick 10 and the outer and lower face 27 of the said extension 26 is also formed suitably for a bearing surface for a second strap 28. Approximately opposite to the bearing surface 24 on'the picker stickthe auxiliary stick 21 is pierced by a hole 29 in which 15 housed a releasing pin 30. The said pin 30 compr ses a body portion that is a sliding fit for the hole 29, a head 31 on the inner end, and a smaller head 32 on the outer endformedby reducing a portion of the body portion slightly inwardly from the extreme outer end.

The first strap or picker stick strap 25 has the inner endsecured to the picker stick 10, at the inner portion of the bearing surface 24 and the outer end is connected to the releasing pin 30, adjacent the head 31. The latter connection may be effected by making a hole in the strap through which the body portion of the pin 30 may be threaded so that the strap will be engaged with thehead 31. The pin 30 furthermore is of such length that when in position in the hole 29 and with the strap 25 mounted thereon as described the small head 32 will extend outwardly beyond the bearing surface 27, suitably to receive and engagewith a hole in the outer end of the second-strap 28 or spring strap. The said spring strap 28 extends along the hearing surface 27 and the inner end thereof is connected to the spring 23. Under normal conditions there is no strain on the icker Stick strap 25, so that the same is esser ..ially slack, and the spring strap 28 is positively connected tothe auxiliary stick 21 by means of the small head 32, so that the normal conditions of operation may be effected in the the picker stick 10 with morepower, the

manner described. 7

Under the abnormal conditions mentioned and in which the upper end of the picker stick 10 is interrupted in its travel, such for instance as shown in Fig. 3, then the operation is as f'ollows:It.is understood that the propelling mechanism 12 continues to pull on the picker stick 10. The obstruction serves as the fulcrum, the propelling mechanism 12 as the power, and then, operating as a lever of the third class, the work is whatever is efi'ected at the lower end of the picker stick 10. It is obvious that in the case of the ordinary structure in common use the tendency will be to break out the outer side of the picker stick, and this is the result that is borne out by practice. It is also obvious that no such result can follow with my picker stick 10, as the same is provided with an open slot at the point mentioned. .VVh-at actually happens with my mechanism is that the lower end of the picker stick 10 is pulled away from the pin 18, the latter'traveling result in throwing the particular picker stick 10 out of commission. I find however that I can also throw the mating picker stick 10 out of commission by interconnecting the two' spring straps 28 by a single spring 23, as shown, or connecting together the two springs usually used individually on the picker sticks of the ordinary type. Re-

leasing one of the spring straps 28 releases the tension of the spring 23 so that the other end will either free itself or at any rate become inoperative. picker stick out of commission when trouble is encountered with the one of them, avoids entirely the usual damage that follows when one of the picker sticks catch.

By the construction described, if the spring or the trap, or picker stick breaks, or the picker a; ek catches, or box motion catches, flee picker stick 10 will be thrown out of commission on both sides, and avoids the damage that results from such conditions in the mechanism at present in use. As described, the loop 22 serves to cross-connect the picker stick 10 and the auxiliary stick 21. The said loop 22 engages by its ends 33 with bearings 34 provided one on the outer side of the auxiliary stick 21 and the othcron the inner side of the picker stick 10. The sai bearings 34 are provided in bearing blocks 35, secured to the sticks 10 and 21 by screws 36, and in SLJll a manner as to permit of adjustment as by means of slots 39 in the blocks 35, and a corresponding change in the power. The auxiliary stick 21 serves to hold the picker stick 10 in place. To hold bearing on the auxiliary stick 21 is moved downwardly and vice versa. A correspondmg change in power, and speed in the operation of the picker stick 10 is obtained by a similarshifting of the bearing on the picker stick. F

Theloop 22 as shown is a closed, endless and generally rectangular structure, comprising parallel bars 37.at the front and rear, cross-connected at the ends bythe cross-bars 33, which serve as bearings in cooperation with the movablebearings 34. The cross-bars 33 may be provided, as shown with antifriction rollers 38. I vWhat I claim as my invention is z 1. A picker stickaihaving a slot in the lower end, a stud positioned in the said slot,

an .ailxiliary stick pivotally supported adjarent the said picker stick,a loop connecting the upper end of the said auxiliary stick with the sald picker stick, the lower end. of

the said auxiliarystick having a hole, a ,re;

Throwing the mating leasing pin in the said hole, a strap connecting the said pin and the lower end of the said picker stick, a spring, and means for removably connecting the said spring and the said releasing pin.

2. In combination a pair of mating picker 'of the said slots suitably to serve as a ful-.

crum support therefor under normal conditions or" operation and which permit of disengaging the said picker sticks from their studs under abnormal conditions of operation.

3. A picker stick having an open slot at the lower end, a fixed stud engaged with the said slot, an auxiliary stick pivotally supported adjacent the said lower end, means inter-connecting the said auxiliary stick and the lower end of the picker stick, a spring operative to normally position the said picker stick, and the said spring being connected to the said auxiliary stick:

4. A picker stick having an open slot at the lower end, a stud positioned in the said.

slot, an auxiliary stick pivotally mounted and positioned adj acent'the said lower end,

means interconnecting the upper end of the said auxiliary stick and the said picker stick,

and means for connecting the lower end of.

the said auxiliary stick and the said picker stick and operative to permit the dis-connecting of the same under abnormal condiv tions of operation.

5. A picker stick having an open slot at the lower end, a stud positioned in the said slot, an auxiliary stick pivotally .mounted and positioned adjacent the said lower end,

a yoke connecting the upper end of the said auxiliary stick and the said picker stick, and a'connection for the lower end of the said auxiliary stick and the said picker stick ,comprising a strap, connected by one end to the saidpicker stick, a pin connected to the other end of the said strap, and the said,

auxiliary stick having a hole for the said pin, and a spring having one endremovably connected to a portion of the said pin.

6. Apicker stick combination for looms comprising a picker stick, a fixed pivotal support therefor near its lower end, the said lower end of the picker stick having a slot that isopen at the outer side for engaging with the said support, an auxiliary stick pivotally mounted, positioned adjacent the said picker stick, and means interconnecting the said picker stick and auxiliary stick operative to so connect them that they "will have ablimited to and fro movement in unison with the said picker stick engaged with the said support under normal conditions of operation and to permit of dismounting the said picker stick from the said support under abnormal conditions.

7. Ill combination in a loom, a frame, a

' stud fixedly supported by the said frame, a picker stick, and the said picker stick having a slot at the lower end that'is open at the outer side for receiving the said stud.

I, FREDERICK BERNIER.

Witnesses: ARTHUR IGIROUARD,

JAMES A. RUTHERFORD: 

